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Vancouver is home to some of the best independent corner stores in Canada. Chock full of sugary snacks and character, most with outer signage that speaks to bygone times. While they may be somewhat plentiful today, this city of ours changes fast and before we know it they could all be replaced by generic chains or – even worse – simply disappear. Luckily for you, photographer Jason Statler has made it his mission to capture images of all of these wonderful establishments. In his “At Your Convenience” series he's cataloging everything from your favourite mom n' pop shop on the West side of Boundary Road to that place on Mackenzie that makes the best Screamers in all of Dunbar. Most who live in Mount Pleasant will tell you (like we are) that Hasty Market on the corner of 16th Avenue and Main Street is the best in all of the land. A semi-well-kept secret is that they carry a wide variety of “imported” pops: American Mountain Dew with caffeine! Cherry Coke! Vanilla Coke! Vanilla Pepsi! Cherry Diet Pepsi! Zahid and Ali who run the place have everything you need, including charm and gratitude for you shopping with them. A friendlier pair you surely will not find. Lastly, outside of the store there's a working payphone sitting below their signage which, over the years, someone keeps returning to vandalize. Where the sign reads “Hasty Market” during the day, at night when the backlighting turns on it gets transformed magically into “Nasty Market” by way of a subtle layer of mischievously placed paint. It surely makes the owners irate, but it's an endearing part of the charm of this, the most awesome corner store in all of Vancouver. |
Photo: Jason Statler
2014 Most Awesome Awards - Readers Choice
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Nominated by the readers of VancouverIsAwesome.com. Click the links in each slide to learn more about the winners!
Most Awesome Building Manager
By Vancouver Is Awesome
John Davis!
Most Awesome Teenager
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Tomas Lang!
Most Awesome Amateur Sports League
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Terminal City Roller Girls!
Most Awesome Sharing Advocate
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Joni McKervey!
Most Awesome Good Will Ambassador
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Bif Naked!
Most Awesome Graphic Design Advocates
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Ross Milne and Grace Partridge!
Most Awesome Doctor
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Doctor Julio Montaner!
Most Awesome Charitable Entrepreneur
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Ken Lyotier of United We Can!
Most Awesome Sports Fans
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Vancouver Whitecaps FC supporters!
Most Awesome Librarian
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Sheila Mclean!
Most Awesome Free Thing
By Vancouver Is Awesome
The Vancouver Public Library!
Most Awesome Walking Bridge
By Vancouver Is Awesome
The one in East Van featured in The Raymur Mothers!
Most Awesome Place to Regain Faith in Humanity
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Sol Convenience Store!
Most Awesome Public Park
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Stanley Park!
Most Awesome Knitters
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Knit Social!
Most Awesome TV Show
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My Little Pony - Friendship is Magic!
Most Awesome Soup
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Peaceful Noodle's Spicy Tangy Dumpling Soup!
Most Awesome FREE Music Event Series
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Playground.is!
Most Awesome Ocean Conservation Program
By Vancouver Is Awesome
The Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise!
Most Awesome Local Food Advocate
By Vancouver Is Awesome
Chad Brealey from Salt, Fresh & Field!
Most Awesome Animal Rights Organization
By Vancouver Is Awesome
The BC SPCA's Vancouver branch!
Most Awesome Kitchen Rescue Organization
By Vancouver Is Awesome
VOKRA!
